Christine Majerus sprinted to victory in Norwich to clinch the opening stage of the Aviva Women’s Tour and with it the Aviva Yellow Jersey of race leader.

The Boels Dolmans rider, and Luxembourg national champion, took her first UCI Women’s WorldTour victory, pipping Marianne Vos and Giorgia Bronzini as Cylance Pro Cycling’s Alison Tetrick was caught in the final 100-metres of the stage into Norwich city centre.

The 31-year-old American spent the final 21-kilometres in a solo break on the Norfolk roads, building a lead at one-point of almost two-minutes. But come the technical run through the centre of Norwich, and the uphill drag to the finish line in the Market Place the Cylance rider was pipped, holding on to finish eighth, just ahead of a six second time gap.

We catch up with Alison Tetrick of Cylance Pro Cycling Team after her solo attempt to take Stage 1 of the AVIVA Women’s Tour 2016. A gutsy performance but the win eluded Alison, however it’s not dampened her desire to take another stage win. #AvivaWT2016

Tetrick did claim the day’s combativity prize for her fighting ride that so nearly paid fruit, especialy after she had been brought down in a crash earlier in the stage, until the final corner when first Majerus, and then Vos brushed her aside.

Majerus also claimed the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey, with her stage win giving her the advantage over Vos, with the two level on 15-points apiece.

Christine Majerus of Boels Dolmans Cycling Team take the Yellow Jersey after Stage 1 of the AVIVA Women’s Tour 2016. Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc catches up with her after the stage press conference.

Top Brit on the day was Lizzie Armitstead in 18th, pulling on the Adnams Best British Rider jersey with Dutch rider Ilona Hoeksma of the Parkhotel Valkenburg team holds a three point advantage in the Strava Queen of the Mountains competition over Orica AIS rider Taylor Wiles.

Team Liv Plantury’s Floortje Mackaij wears the Best Young Rider Jersey presented by Stoke-on-Trent European City of Sport, taking a three second advantage over Rossella Ratto into day two of the Aviva Women’s Tour.

The Aviva Women’s Tour resumes in Warwickshire, with its first ever stage in the county, heading south from Atherstone to Stratford-upon-Avon, via the likes of Kenilworth and Warwick.
Along the way the race will pass the National Cydists’ Memorial in Meriden, where a wreath will be laid to remember the cyclists of the First World War commemorated, and pass through the campus of the University of Warwick, who are partners to the stage.

Amateur cyclists can also ride part of the Aviva Women’s Tour route this year in the Tour Ride Northamptonshire, the official sportive of the Aviva Women’s Tour. Taking place one month after the final stage, on Sunday 17 July, 40 and 80-mile routes starting and finishing from Delapre Abbey in Northampton will take place using sections of the Stage Five route, while there is also a fun, off-road 10-mile route for families. To sign-up head to www.tourride.co.uk

Christine Majerus of Boels Dolmans Cycling Team take the Yellow Jersey after Stage 1 of the AVIVA Women’s Tour 2016. Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc catches up with her after the stage press conference.

Christine Majerus of Boels Dolmans Cycling Team takes the Yellow Jersey after Stage 1 of the AVIVA Women’s Tour 2016. Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc catches up with her after the stage press conference.